Once Upon a Day

The time our home was burnt to the ground...


Once Upon a Day

One fine day
Cloud of smoke went up the sky
The neighbors shouted "fire!"
Made my sister ask "where?!"

The neighbors chorused "in your house!"
It caused my sister to shout
And went back to the house and warn the others
And woke my sleeping brother

He climbed the stairs with sleepy head
A glass of water in hand
To put out the fire at hand
Not understanding full well

My father quickly grabbed his boots
And put them on
With nothing else on
But his underwear on

My sister wore a baggy pants
And managed to put on a red hat
Across the fire blazing
Swallowing everything

There I was on my way home
Saw fire trucks on the street
Thinking that it's only a fire drill
At an Inn across our home

Images played before me
Our cat's carcasses floating in the water
Tear-stained faces of my sisters
My nephews' grave faces and bared feet

But when I look back
I can't help but laugh
At how stupid my brother was
And how funny my father looked


-----sanzo------